00:25 - KarlabosMost videos are all about just adding random images to the song though, so...

00:22 - KarlabosSome videos aren't bad. But an ok video is not a good video. A good video would be something that adds to the song. In a way after you've seen it you can't help but to feel only listening to the song isn't enough anymore

23:53 - ApothecaryI mean welcome to artists trying to be theatrical lol there's always going to be some degree of cheese in music videos, even if it's .0001% cheese

01. Intrusion02. Fireheart03. Voyager04. Into The Endless Abyss05. In The Absence Of Existence06. The World We Left Behind07. Tear You Down08. On The Other Side09. Epitaph For A Dying Star

Blake Judd, love him or hate him, is now presenting us with the last chapter in the saga of Nachtmystium, one of the most important names in American black metal of the past decade, and a thirteen year trip through savage territories both familiar and unconventional. And what a fitting end piece it is.

The World We Left Behind can best be summed up as containing most of the elements that up until now have made Nachtmystium the project that it is. If you've been following along from the beginning (or at least since the pivotal Instinct: Decay) you'll know what to expect: the usual catchy, bouncy riffage, a pleasantly alternating tempo, and a very particular vocal delivery that comes across as harsh, yet discernible. Blake's vocals have always tended to be fairly understandable even without having lyrics right in front of you, and The World We Left Behind is no exception. Of all these factors, however, it's the catchiness that really sells this album, making it both fun and easy to bob your head to. Tracks like "Fireheart" and "On The Other Side" (especially with the solo in the latter) plod along more like some eccentric form of extreme rock than black metal, and whether this higher sense of accessibility is seen negatively or not, it definitely gets the job done.

In addition, fans of the more experimental side of Nachtmystium may be pleased as well by the slight presence of some Black Meddle-ish electronic elements sprinkled in throughout The World We Left Behind. Though not of prime importance, these little moments, like in the middle of "Fireheart" or on "Tear You Down," go a long way towards reminding the listener that Blake Judd still embraces this aspect of his project, even when serving it in smaller degrees, and they help to give the album the extra personality it needs to be engaging on a bit of a deeper level. The clean vocals on closer "Epitath For A Dying Star" work wonders as well, and if Nachtmystium ever needed a ballad (as if "Seasick" wasn't one already?), this track is it.

So what should we remember, looking back on the career that has been Nachtmystium's? Taking the internal controversies and accusations surrounding Blake Judd aside, we're still left with a band that's demonstrated a pretty respectable level of consistency across their discography, including two albums that immediately raised the bar for innovation within black metal, and were fundamental towards proving American bands still relevant and formidable in the international scene. The World We Left Behind is an appropriate end to this journey with its sense of blending the project's various sounds together, and will likely go down as an enjoyable last chapter in this part of black metal's history. Cheers, Mr. Judd. It's been great riding with you all this time.

Check out "Tear You Down" over here, and stay tuned for the full release in a few days!

Comments page 2 / 2

Rumor has it that Judd has decided to keep Nachtmystium around. I'm curious if this is further in the direction the band will be going if there is to be more material in the future...

Yes, I've heard about that too, but with all the word of mouth that circulates about him online, I didn't really take that news too seriously at first. But if it is true, and it does continue in this sound, this guy will definitely be a happy camper.

For me, it sounds like this album would make more sense coming out between Addicts and Silencing Machine, it feels like it bridges the gap between the two.

Yeah, I can see why you'd say that, it does indeed bear more of a resemblance to Addicts I think, not as harsh and mechanical sounding as Silencing Machine. Nonetheless, I do think it's quite fitting as the band's final album because it doesn't really seem to be too overly similar to any of the band's other albums. It's kind of like a montage of them, like Judd's saying "here's a bit of everything I've done up to this point."

Rumor has it that Judd has decided to keep Nachtmystium around. I'm curious if this is further in the direction the band will be going if there is to be more material in the future...

Well it seems like Century Media dropped him and with his newly earned scamming reputation (which ain't all that new, but it escalated a bit) I doubt that a respectable label will pick his band up, taking the risk of him scamming them as well. The guy is not serious and surely not trust worthy. If he still wishes to continue though he might revive his old defunct label or be independent. Being a band today is hard, but having it and being also a drug addict is a suicide mission.